Are you writing a scene where characters in your novel visit an amusement park? Use the following 10 words to describe fairground rides to really bring your writing to life.
1. Dizzying
Definition
- Making someone feel dizzy.
- Very fast and confusing.
Examples
“The dizzying pace of the waltzers made her wish she had chosen to spend her money on the hook a duck game instead.”
“The fairground presented a dizzying array of lights, colors, and sounds. He could barely decide what he wanted to go on first.”
How it Adds Description
“Dizzying” can not only help you show how the fairground rides in your story affect your characters, but also the atmosphere they provide as well as the fairground on the whole. Often things are fast and confusing, and guaranteed to put your characters in a spin before they have even set foot on a ride!
2. Garish
Definition
Showy or brightly colored.
Examples
“Although the garish lights of the fairground rides attracted children like moths to a flame, all it did for her was threaten to give her a migraine.”
“As he walked through the fairground, it seemed like every attraction was looking to outdo the next when it came to their garish paint jobs and lighting displays.”
How it Adds Description
Fairground rides often have daring color schemes, lighting, and music that would be seen as far too much were they to be used anywhere else! Try describing your bright and flashy fairground rides as “garish”, especially when referenced by a character who perhaps prefers things a bit more subtle.
3. Intense
Definition
Strong or extreme.
Examples
“The more intense the ride was, the more adamant the high schoolers were to go on it.”
“The fairground ride seemed innocent at first, but soon became intense as it rocketed them into the air with little to no warning at all.”
How it Adds Description
Some fairground rides can be pretty tame, such as carousels, but others can be a little crazy! Try describing some of the more high-octane rides at your fairground as “intense”, and your readers will learn more about your characters as to whether they are willing to ride it or not!
4. Joyful
Definition
Causing feelings of great happiness.
Examples
“The joyful shouts of the children on the fairground rides never ceased to raise her spirits.”
“Joyful illustrations covered the side of the fairground ride, all painstakingly spray painted and polished until they gleamed.”
How it Adds Description
If there is one thing that fairgrounds and fairground rides do, is make people happy! To display this in your writing, consider describing them as “joyful”, both in appearance and in the way that they make people feel when riding them.
5. Loud
Definition
- Making a lot of noise.
- Having bright colors or strong patterns that are slightly unpleasant.
Examples
“If you did not know that the fair was in town already, the loud music coming from the fairground rides could be heard for what seemed like miles around.”
“Every fairground ride was decorated with loud patterns and bright neon colors.”
How it Adds Description
“Loud” can work for you in two ways when you are writing about fairground rides, both their volume and also the way that they are decorated. This word can often suggest someone that is disapproving of the fairground and may find everything just a bit too much.
6. Rickety
Definition
In bad condition and likely to break.
Examples
“Some of the rides at the fairground were so old and rickety they threatened to fall apart every single time they started.”
“The small rollercoaster clattered along on rickety tracks.”
How it Adds Description
Sometimes rides at the fair can seem a little bit worse for wear, especially if they have been there for decades or been unloved. If any of the rides at the fairground in your story match this description, consider describing them as “rickety”.
7. Scary
Definition
Making someone feel frightened.
Examples
“When it came to going to the fair with his friends he much preferred holding their bags. The rides were far too scary for him.”
“There was something about the way that the clown stared at him from the entryway of the ride which made what should be an enjoyable funhouse seem rather scary.”
How it Adds Description
Some people may not like the rides at the fairground and may see them as “scary”! This could be because they are too intense for them, or perhaps there is something about them that makes them seem a little spooky, such as a haunted house or something else your character deems to be unpleasant.
8. Tantalizing
Definition
Causing desire and excitement but being unlikely to fulfil these needs.
Examples
“The smell of cotton candy, mixed with the lively music and flashing lights of the rides was a tantalizing proposition.”
“It was as if all of the rides at the fairground were having a competition to see which could be the most tantalizing to visitors.”
How it Adds Description
If there is one word that sums up how fairground rides can make you feel, it is “tantalizing”! They tempt people in with bright lights, music, and other tactics, but in the end, leave you wanting more. Try using “tantalizing” to illustrate the allure of the fairground to your readers.
9. Thrilling
Definition
Very exciting.
Examples
“The fairground offered a mixture of thrilling rides and addictive junk food that made it a magnet for the local teens.”
“The fairground rides ranged from the tame to the thrilling, carousels to ‘coasters.”
How it Adds Description
Instead of simply saying that your fairground rides are “exciting”, consider describing them as “thrilling” instead for a much more powerful reflection of how they engage and make your characters feel.
10. Wild
Definition
Uncontrolled or extreme.
Examples
“The fairground rides looked simply wild as if they were designed to be as crazy as possible.”
“Just as wild as the rides were the people that were on them, their screams and cheers pulsating through the air depending upon how close the ride was to the ground at that moment in time.”
How it Adds Description
“Wild” helps you to describe the intensity of the rides at your fairground, and also show which ones your characters want to go on! Some rides at a fairground lean towards the extreme, or their movements might be erratic, making “wild” a great descriptor.